The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, Too Long in the Wasteland (released in 1989), was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his Longform Music Video of Where'd You Hide The Body. 1997's It Had To Happen received the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album.
In 2004, McMurtry released the universally-lauded Live in Aught-Three on Compadre Records. 2005's Childish Things garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, Childish Things and "We Can't Make It Here" won the Americana Music Awards for Album and Song of the Year, respectively. McMurtry received more Americana Music Award nominations for 2008's Just Us Kids. This album marked his highest Billboard 200 chart position in more than 19 years.
In 2009, Live in Europe was released, capturing The McMurtry Band's first European tour and extraordinary live set. Along with seasoned band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, the disc features special guests Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. Also, for the first time ever, video of the James McMurtry Band's live performance is available on the included DVD.
The poignant lyrics of his immense catalog still ring true today. In 2011, "We Can't Make It Here" was cited among 'The Nation's' "Best Protest Songs Ever." Bob Lefsetz writes, "'We Can't Make It Here' has stood the test of time because of its unmitigated truth."
Never one to rest on his laurels, James McMurtry continues to tour constantly, and consistently puts on a "must-see" powerhouse performance. 'The Washington Post' noted McMurtry's live prowess: "Much attention is paid to James McMurtry's lyrics, and rightfully so: He creates a novel's worth of emotion and experience in four minutes of blisteringly stark couplets. What gets overlooked, however, is that he's an accomplished rock guitar player. At a sold-out Birchmere, the Austin-based artist was joined by drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson in a set that demonstrated the raw power of wince-inducing imagery propelled by electric guitar. It was serious stuff, imparted by a singularly serious band."
JAMES McMURTRY LIVE IN EUROPE CD WITH BONUS DVD DOCUMENTS FIRST EURO TOUR WITH GUESTS IAN MCLAGAN AND JON DEE GRAHAM
On October 13, 2009, Lightning Rod Records released Live in Europe, a document of McMurtry's first European tour, on which, along with long-time band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, he was joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriting legend Jon Dee Graham. The set is available as a CD with a bonus DVD, or as a deluxe vinyl LP package with a CD and DVD insert. In early 2009, James McMurtry and his trio traveled overseas to play their first European tour. The guys played for enthusiastic crowds in Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Scotland and Belgium. Joining the band on keyboards for the tour was the legendary Ian McLagan (who also played on McMurtry's latest studio album, Just Us Kids). The best recordings from the Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Geislingen, Germany concerts were combined to create Live in Europe. The album includes a bonus DVD featuring performances from the Amsterdam show. This marks the first time fans will be able to purchase video footage of McMurtry live in concert. The deluxe vinyl version includes inserted copies of the CD and DVD. Fellow Austin-based songwriter Jon Dee Graham opened the shows and joins the band on a version of his tune "Laredo" on the bonus DVD.
JAMES McMURTRY ALBUMS REISSUED: 'CHILDISH THINGS' & 'LIVE IN AUGHT-THREE'
On February 1, 2011, two of James McMurtry's most popular albums, Childish Things and Live in Aught-Three were reissued by Lightning Rod Records. Live in Aught-Three has been remastered since its original 2004 release and will be available on vinyl for the first time. The deluxe double LP also includes a copy of the album on CD.
Terry
James McMurtry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Terry's off the track
Sent him away and he won't be back for a while
Fifteen years old
One night he lost control
Straight shots
Staggered out to the parking lot
Someone called him names
He was in no mood for games
He was irate
Courtin' fate
It all went off in the blink of an eye
There's no turnin back or questioning why
It was the heat of the moment
Flash in the pan
Blood on the gravel and a long neck in his hand
Terry's off the track
Been gone two years and he ain't been back a time
Sent him to a school
Pays attention and he minds the rules
And he makes no fuss
Says he misses us
Plays his guitar low
In his room 'neath a sixty-watt glow
Till the counselor shouts, "Lights out."
Then it all comes back
Ringin in his ear
My God boy, whatcha doin' in here?
It was the heat of the moment
A flash in the pan
Never shoulda happened
And you know it never will again
Terry's off the track
Someday he'll be comin' back, they say
His hometown looks the same
Same old streets and the same old games to play
Must be a dream
Eleven months he turns eighteen
And he's outta there
But he won't leave the walls behind
They're gonna stay with him a good long time
In the heat of the moment
Any old day
It don't take a second to throw it all away
Terry's off the track
Sent him away and he won't be back for a while
The lyrics of James McMurtry's "Terry" describe a teenager named Terry who lost control one night and ended up killing someone in a fit of rage. As a result, Terry was sent away to a school for two years and won't be back home for a while. While he's away, Terry plays guitar in his room and follows the rules. However, he's haunted by what he did and knows that he can never take back what happened. Despite the passage of time, the memory of that fateful night still lingers in Terry's mind and affects him deeply.
The lyrics of "Terry" offer a powerful commentary on the destructive consequences of unchecked anger and aggression. The song paints an evocative picture of Terry's life before and after the incident, showing how one moment of thoughtlessness can lead to a lifetime of regret. By exploring the emotional aftermath of the event, the song encourages listeners to think about the consequences of their actions and to strive for greater self-control in moments of intense emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Terry's off the track
Terry gone astray from the right path
Sent him away and he won't be back for a while
Terry was punished for his act and he won't return home for a while
Fifteen years old
Terry is only 15 years old
One night he lost control
One night, Terry lost his control over his emotions
Straight shots
Terry was drinking alcohol directly
Staggered out to the parking lot
Terry was walking unsteadily towards the parking lot
Someone called him names
Somebody insulted Terry
He was in no mood for games
Terry didn't want to engage in pointless arguments
He was irate
Terry was extremely angry
Courtin' fate
Terry was challenging his fate
It all went off in the blink of an eye
Everything happened so quickly
There's no turnin back or questioning why
Terry can't change what happened and doesn't know why he did it
It was the heat of the moment
Terry's act was a result of a sudden rush of emotions
Flash in the pan
Terry's act was just temporary and insignificant
Blood on the gravel and a long neck in his hand
There was blood on the ground and Terry was holding a long neck bottle
Been gone two years and he ain't been back a time
Terry has been away for two years and has never returned
Sent him to a school
Terry was sent to a school for rehabilitation
Pays attention and he minds the rules
Terry is now following the rules and is attentive
And he makes no fuss
Terry is behaving calmly
Says he misses us
Terry says that he misses his family and hometown
Plays his guitar low
Terry plays his guitar softly
In his room 'neath a sixty-watt glow
Terry plays guitar in his room under the light of a sixty-watt bulb
Till the counselor shouts, "Lights out."
Terry plays guitar until the counselor tells him to turn off the lights
Then it all comes back
Terry remembers the incident
Ringin in his ear
The memories of the incident are still stuck in Terry's mind
My God boy, whatcha doin' in here?
The counselor asks Terry what he is doing at the school
Never shoulda happened
Terry should have never done what he did
And you know it never will again
Terry understands that he can't repeat his mistake
Someday he'll be comin' back, they say
People say that Terry will come back someday
Same old streets and the same old games to play
Terry's hometown is still the same, with the same games to play
Must be a dream
Terry can't believe that he'll return to his hometown
Eleven months he turns eighteen
Terry will turn eighteen in eleven months
And he's outta there
Terry will leave the school soon
But he won't leave the walls behind
Terry can't leave the memories of the school behind
They're gonna stay with him a good long time
Terry will remember the school for a long time
Any old day
Any day, Terry can lose control again
It don't take a second to throw it all away
Terry understands that he can lose everything in a matter of seconds
Contributed by Carson Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.